Injury & Accidents
Whiplash
Neck injury from rapid acceleration and deceleration, typically in a collision.
Also called: Whiplash-associated disorder, Neck injury after a collision.
Whiplash can involve the joints, muscles, and ligaments of the neck, produced by rapid back-and-forth motion of the head. Symptoms often include headache, dizziness, concentration difficulty, and fatigue alongside neck pain, not just local soreness.
The range of severity is wide, from mild stiffness that settles within days to more persistent symptoms that need ongoing evaluation.
Why this matters
Symptoms frequently appear over the following day or two rather than immediately after the collision, which is why early evaluation is sensible even if you feel largely fine at the scene.
Because whiplash can affect balance and cognitive function as well as the neck itself, a narrow focus on neck pain alone can miss part of the picture.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
The upper neck contributes heavily to balance and head control, and disruption there helps explain the dizziness and visual symptoms that often accompany whiplash beyond the neck pain itself.
Because whiplash can involve mild brain-level effects even without a direct head impact, a broader neurological evaluation is often appropriate, not just an assessment of the neck.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
After a significant collision, medical assessment comes first. We will not adjust a neck before injury has been appropriately evaluated.
- Severe neck pain after a high-speed collision
- Numbness, weakness or clumsiness in the arms or legs
- Loss of consciousness, vomiting or worsening headache
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Balance & Coordination — Balance is a whole-nervous-system task. It is also one of the easier things to measure and re-measure.
- Ankle Instability — A repeatedly rolling or unreliable ankle, usually following earlier sprains.
- Ankle Sprain — Ligament injury from rolling or twisting the ankle.
- Atlantoaxial Instability — Excessive movement between the first two neck bones — a medical finding requiring caution.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.